Merchant Hotel’s Andrew Dickey wins World Class Irish Bartender Of The Year 2016

Andrew Dickey representing The Merchant Hotel's Cocktail Bar in Belfast was crowned as the World Class Irish Bartender of the Year 2016 at the World Class Irish Final

Chef and celebrity judge John Torode praises "the level of passion, creativity and outstanding skill" on display at Irish World Class final

Print

Print

Off-trade

Read More: Diageo World Class

Chef and celebrity judge John Torode said: “It has been amazing to witness the level of passion, creativity and outstanding skill here today”

Following rounds of intense competition and outstanding creativity, Andrew Dickey from The Merchant Hotel, Belfast has been crowned as the winner of the coveted title ‘World Class Irish Bartender of the Year 2016’ at The King’s Inn in Dublin’s city centre. Andrew Dickey will go on to represent Ireland in the World Class Global Final 2016 which will take place in Miami this coming September.

World Class is known as the industry’s most prestigious and respected mixology competition, committed to celebrating and elevating the craft of bartending. To discover the next generation of world class bartending talent, some of the most revered names in the industry came to Dublin to judge the competition. Influential chef and co-host of MasterChef UK, John Torode joined the judging panel alongside industry experts Max La Rocca, European World Class Ambassador, Anna Walsh, World Class Ireland Winner 2015 and Ewan Gunn, The global BA for Haig Club.

This year, the six finalists were put through their paces more than ever, with complex challenges designed to test them on all aspects of bartending including brand knowledge, precision, sensory, hosting and creativity. Competing alongside Andrew Dickey was Meath native Adam Walsh from Zozimus in Dublin; Croatian born, Ivana Sabljak of House Dublin; Clondalkin born Darren Geraghty who represented The Candlelight Bar in Dundrum, Dublin; Stephanie Shen, bar manager of The Meeting House, Dublin and Alan Petrovic, from Croatia who works as a bartender in KOH Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge in Dublin.

The bartenders competing are encouraged to innovate and experiment using the Diageo Reserve portfolio of the world’s finest spirits – which includes: Ketel One vodka, Cîroc vodka, Ron Zacapa rum, Tanqueray gin, Tanqueray No. Ten gin, Bulleit Bourbon, Don Julio Tequila, Johnnie Walker Gold Label and Blue Label whisky and scotch whisky’s Cardhu, Singleton and Talisker. 

Read More: Diageo World Class

Related Articles

World Class Cocktail Festival coming to Ireland for the first time next month →

Diageo announces creation of world’s first ever 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle →